Blogito ergo sum! Actually, as N.T. Wright averred, "'Amor, ergo sum:' I am loved, therefore I am." Among other things, I am a Roman Catholic deacon. This is a public cyberspace in which I seek to foster Christian discipleship in the late modern milieu in the diakonia of koinonia and in the recognition that "the Eucharist is the only place of resistance to annihilation of the human subject."

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Wednesday, April 30, 2008

Hierarchy Update

After a series of strange events awhile back, the Holy Father accepted the resignation of His Excellency, Donald Pellotte, SSS, as bishop of the Diocese of Gallup, New Mexico, in accordance with canon 401 §2 of the Code of Canon Law, which states that "A diocesan bishop who has become less able to fulfill his office because of ill health or some other grave cause is earnestly requested to present his resignation from office".

The Congregation to which Bishop Pelotte belongs, the Congregation of the Blessed Sacrament (i.e., an instiute of consecrated life founded by St. Peter Julian Eymard), means so much to me. I have been so blessed by them over the years, including Bishop Pelotte's brother, who is now a pastor in Houston. Both my first spiritual director and my current spiritual director, whose friendship I value so very, very much, come from this fine Congregation of consecrated people. Please pray for Bishop Pelotte and all the daughters and sons of St. Peter Julian. In many ways I consider myself kind of a Blessed Sacrament Third Order, as I am sure do many others who have been richly blessed by their ministry and charism. Officially, they do not have third order. For anybody so inclined, please pray a novena to St. Peter Julian on his behalf, with the added intention of more vocations to this wonderful religious order.

One interesting fact about the Diocese of Gallup: it is the only diocese in the United States to have territory in more than one state. The reason for this are the Native American Catholics who largely comprise this local Church. The diocese extends across the state lines of New Mexico and Arizona in order to include the whole territories of reservations. Bishop Pelotte himself is a Native American.

With this resignation, the sede vacante dioceses in the United States now number eight, those being Charleston, South Carolina; Knoxville, Tennessee; Green Bay, Wisconsin; St. Thomas, U.S. Virgin Islands; Juneau, Alaska; New Ulm, Minnesota; Biloxi, Mississippi; Gallup, New Mexico.

4 comments:

Full Disclosure: I am a 55 year old grandfather of two, a former Catholic, a sexual and physical abuse survivor at the hands of nuns and a physical abuse survivor at the hands of priests and one lay teacher from the Archdiocese of Philadelphia. I have no reason to defend a bishop. But this is driving me mad. I have to say something.

This guy lives in New Mexico, the UFO abduction capital of the world! What he reported to the police is a CLASSIC UFO abduction report...he was visited by small creatures wearing Halloween masks that did not hurt him but refused to leave his home. As absolutely insane as this sounds...what if he is telling the truth? THOUSANDS of people each year more or less report this same phenomenon. What if he experienced the classic UFO abduction experience (whatever that is...little green men, mass delusion, government controlled psychic science project, etc.) ? Why is this guy being ridiculed when other people are interviewed on TV documentaries for reporting the exact same thing? What IF he is telling us exactly what happened to him?

First off, thanks for having the courage to share what happened to you. I am sorry from the bottom of my heart.

Indeed, the events surrounding Bp. Pelotte's seeming demise are strange. He reports what you say. Apart from that, I am not qualified to arrive at any conclusions. I would never ridicule another person going through a difficult time.

I ams so sorry for the abuse that you have experienced with people you most trusted. Thank you for coming forward with this. I was remembering at the time when I had surgery, and with the pain medication I experienced some weird things.Perhaps this is what happened to Bishop Pellote. Besides the head injuries he has had. Sorry to say, but Karma always gets you back, for all that he and Bishop Hastrich did to the little parish in which all the money was taken, by them, which was to go to the church, it was meant to be, in donation. Also the cover up in which they did as far as sexual abuse with the different priests. Sad how our church has to have the reputation because of men and women as them? I have no symphathy for them at all. They will be judged by Our Lord,and perhaps it has aleady started.

About Me

I am husband and Dad to six lovely children. I am also a Roman Catholic deacon of the Diocese of Salt Lake City. I married in 1993, became a Dad for the first time in 1994 and most recently in 2011 (quite a spread). I was was ordained in 2004. After serving for 11 years at The Cathedral of the Madeleine in Salt Lake City, I am now assigned to St Olaf's Parish in Bountiful, Utah. I am a graduate of the University of Utah and the Institute in Pastoral Ministry at St. Mary's University of Minnesota.

Madeleine Delbrêl

"We fashion the immortal being we are through our choices. Through our choices we bring the man in us to the fullness of life or to the worst of human suffering. At the hour of his death each human being has become either a person who will live with God forever, or who will be without God forever" Madeleine Delbrêl

St. Paul

"I appeal to you therefore, brothers, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable to God, which is your spiritual worship. Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by testing you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect" (Rom. 12:1-2)

Two men I greatly admire

BXVI w/ Abp Rowan

C.S. Lewis

“Friendship is born at that moment when one person says to another: 'What! You too? I thought I was the only one'” Lewis